Netflix’s smash-hit true crime drama, Baby Reindeer, has shocked absolutely no one by taking home the prize for Best Limited or Anthology Series at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards. Created by and starring Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer is a fictionalized retelling of Gadd’s own experience with a stalker. Despite facing tough competition from Fargo Season 5, Lessons in Chemistry, Ripley, and True Detective: Night Country, Baby Reindeer was by in large the people’s favorite to win. The limited series dominated the cultural conversation upon its release this April, with fans eagerly searching to find the real Baby Reindeer stalker.
Creator Richard Gadd and the show’s cast and crew accepted the award from Jean Smart (who had just won her sixth Emmy, for Hacks). Gadd took to the microphone praising the show’s cast and crew. This was his third speech of the night after winning awards for writing and starring in Baby Reindeer. Gadd said, sounding like a motivational speaker:
“I know the industry is in a slump right now, and I know that might force or put pressure on networks and stuff to tighten the purse strings and broaden the slate. But I do believe no slump was ever broken without a willingness to take risks. I think if
Baby Reindeer
has proved anything, it’s that there’s no set formula to this, that you don’t need big stars, proven IP, a long-running series, and catch-all storytelling to have a hit.“Really the only constant, the only constant across any success in television, is good storytelling, good storytelling that speaks to our times. Take risks, push boundaries, explore the uncomfortable, dare to fail in order to achieve.”
Baby Reindeer was a strong contender across the Limited or Anthology Series categories during this year’s Emmys. As well as Best Limited Series, Baby Reindeer also won Outstanding Writing for Limited or Anthology Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in Limited, Anthology Series or Movie, in addition to the two Creative Arts Emmys the series won the weekend prior — for Outstanding Casting and Outstanding Picture Editing.
Baby Reindeer Is Being Sued
Sadly, despite its tremendous Emmy success, it’s not all PR events and after parties for the cast and crew of Baby Reindeer, as series creator Richard Gadd and Netflix are being sued by the real life “Marta” for defamation. It was recently confirmed that the case will be moving to trial on May 6, 2025. “Martha,” real name: Fiona Harvey, first appeared anonymously in a story published by The Daily Mail, claiming that Gadd’s series heavily distorted the reality of their “relationship.” Fiona later revealed herself during an interview with Piers Morgan, speaking to the controversial British personality for nearly an hour about the show.
Baby Reindeer was promoted as being based on a true story by Gadd and Netflix in the show’s promotional materials. However, Richard Gadd claims to have fictionalized a large portion of the show’s events, both for dramatic effect, and to protect the identity of “Martha” (Fiona’s pseudonym in the show). Despite this, it took eager fans only a handful of days to discover the true identity of the stalker in the series, and Fiona was met with vile messages across multiple social media platforms from fans buying into the show’s marketing as a “true story.”
Baby Reindeer
is streaming on Netflix.